Dumping platform



L. H. PALMER.

DUMPING PLATFORM.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 25, |920.

www4.. l mm1-,ea oct. 31, w22.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

L. H. PALMER.

DUMPING PLATFORM.

APPUCATION FILED 0cT.25.192o.

1541335.64@ Patented 00h31, w22,

a 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. 41 ,12 /Z /o 9 C gw ma w (el mi DUMPNG PLATFORM. y

Application filed October 25, 1926.y Serial No. 419,274.

To al? flo/'fiom it may concern: A

Be it known that l, LOUIS H. PALMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at .llurdsfielch in the county of lWells and State of North Dakota, have invented certain new lfind useful Improvements in Duinping Platforms; and f` dohereby declare the following to be a full clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to malte and usefthe same.

This inventioin relates to a dumping plat-` form or trap to'be used in the grain dump of grain elevators. l e

.ln such elevators, it is customary to have the a grain being either in bulk in the wagon bed or contained in sacks therein. QA suitable discharge chute is arranged to communicate with an opening in the floor, in relation to which the wagon is conveniently arranged. This opening is usually covered by a heavy trap door which must be opened for each wagon-load of grain as the wagon is cus-v tomar-ily drawn thereover. lt isnecessary that the door'be opened a great number of times every day that grainiis being taken in the elevator'. This lnecessitates amount of very hard labor.

lt is an object of this inventionto provide a discharge platform or trap to replace the heavy trap doors referred to above, which platform or trap can be conveniently and easily operated. l Y i lt is another object of the invention to provide such a platform or trap of few simple compact parts designedto withstand the heavy usage to which` they are subjected.

U aa large A further object of theinvention is to provide such a platformwhich may be easily and readily installed in place of the trap (hun: heretofore used. l

Other objects of; the invention will become apparent as the description ,proceeds 'in connection with the accompanying drawings,

in which ln ze reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views, and in which- L Fig. l shows a view ofthe device in sec-v i tion, together with part ofthe elevator floor i and dumping log7 a wagon being shown' on the log and discharging grain into a chute Y by cap screws 39, to form rigid bearing through the device;

Fig. 2- is a perspective view of appli cants device 3 orf: in brought thereto in wagons, the

`with thefloor is applicants novel if-ic wagon E is shown ture.

kmultiple bearing blocks 3 arranged to have 90 thereto'. ka plurality of openings forming bearings.

third bei ring strip 6 cai-r Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3Q?, of lTigQ, looking in the direction of the arrows;

F ig. a is a view of the device in end elevation;

Fig. 5 is a view of one of the parts of the device;

Fig. G is a sectional view of the device i talren on the line 6-6 of F ig. 8; and

`Fig. 7 is a top `plan view of the central 65 bearing member of applicants device.

Referring to the drawings, the operation of the device is shown in'Fig. l. A part of the elevator floor is shown as A comniunicating with which `is a chute B disposed within the upper end of which and arranged flush dumping platform designated generally as C. Adjacent thereto is a tiltable dumping log D.

inposition lon the log D with its rear end in position to discharge grain onto the platform C. lt will 4be un'- derstood that the `dumping log D is normally arranged to have its upper surface flush with the floor lli. The device @will have its up- S0 per surface in thek position shown in Fig. 2 and the wagon will then be drawn over the' device C and onto the `dumping log D, yand the latter can then be tilted to bring the Y wagon into the desired discharging position.

Specifically, the `device comprises side i members l yto which are connected the end.` members 2, to form a heavy born-lille struc- Disposed upon the members 2 are the cap strips Llof the same length secured The members 3 and i have therein Extending between these side members l with' its upper side flush therewith and cen- 95 trally disposed between the members 2, is a 'ng a plurality of bearings 7, the openings of which are arranged in `alignment with the opening 5. The membci similarly to the end bearings is composed of a lower strip 8 and a cap strip 9. The cap strip 9 'h as extending from i each side thereof a series of lugs l0 for a purpose later to be described. lt will be understood that the bearing strips 3 and 4i, 105 and 8 and 9 will be firmly secured together by any suitablefastening means7 preferably members. While any suitable material may be used :for the-above parts, the frame inerriil@ described.

bers 1 and 2 will7 preferably, be made oi suitable timber, while the bearing` strips will be preferably made from suitable metal.

The top or floor of the platform is composed ofa series of members designated generally as 11. rThe members 11 each. comprise a pair oi' spaced plates 12. These plates are of general rectangular iorm in plan and have their side edges it'orined-'beveled and parallel, as shown in Fig. 3. Extending` beneath the plates 12, near one edge thereof3v is a connecting member 13, which is arranged to project beyond the outer edges oi; the plates 12 to'iiorm journal portions 1li. The member 13 is also made of cylindricaliorm between the plates to also provioe a journal member 15. The journal members .11i are arranged te bev disposed in the bearing openings 5 and the journals 15 are disposed in the bearings 7. Tt will thus be seen that whenthe series of members 11 are in position, the beveled sides of the same will contact and the upper surfaces of the plates 12 will; form a smooth continuous floor extending from one side to the other of the device. Depending Jfrom eac of the members 11, and as shown, from the right hand plate 12, as shown in Fig. 5', and near its left hand edgeis an arm 16 which is provided with pivot opening 17. lVith the device in a position shown in Fig'. 3, it will bel seen that the pivot openings 17 are in substantially horizontal alignment. The armslare all connected to a rod 1S, which has lugs 19 formed thereon having openings 2O therein.. Rivets 21, or other suitable pivotal means pass through the openings 17 and 21 and thus connect the arms 16 to the rod 18.\4 This rod is formed with screw threads 2Q thereon in one end, andk a nut` 23 is, disposed on said threads. Locking); nuts 24C are shown disposed in each side of thenut QSto lock the same in'any adjusted -position. Thethreadedend of rodv 18 is arranged to through a? slot 25 'formed in one of the members 1, which slot, however, is made sufficiently narrow to prevent the passage of nuts 23 and 24. A slot ted plate or wearingmember 26 arranged to surround the slot 25 is shown disposed inside ot the member 1 and against which the nuts willrcontact ior -a purposey hereinafter Secured to the lower side of the plaiieQG by an eye-bolt 9,7, or other suitable means. is a strong spring 28. the other end ot which issecured tok a luer 29 dependingr from-bar 18. The other end obar 18 pro# jects through a slot B0 `formed inthe member 1.` and this end provided with an apen Y l parts and ones which e'an'be made andas ture 31. i

Suitably disposed at one side/oit the device and secured to the-flooring orother Fixed structurev isa sheave A. flexible member or 'cable secured. to rod 1S through the aperture 31- and is arranged to pass over the sheave 32 and be connected to a lever 34 at they lower endthereoi'. This lever 341- will be disposed in some convenient location and is journaled for swinging movement adjacent a pawl rack 35 by means oi' a journal 86. A. suit-able spring pawl 37 of well known construction is arranged to hold the lever in any one of various po-` sitions determined` by the notches 88 ot the pavvl rack 35.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The members 12 are normally held in open position similar to that shown in Fig. l, by the. contraction of sprirmr 28. This spring pulls the bar 18 to the left, as seen in Fig. 3, and when the' cable 33 is relaxed. the end oi bar 18 attached thereto drops downward-- ly'l to a certain extent. The members 12 swing on the pivots and assume an open position. The position of the members 12 and the extent oi' the openings therebetween isdetermined by engagement of the nut 24 with plate 26. As the nut 24 is adjustable with nut Q3, the amount of opening between the plates vcan be regulated to the desired amount. lith the trap or platform thus opened. grain can bedischargred thereonto and therethrough, as illustrated in Fig'. l.

lVhen it is desired to close the plates 12 to enable the wagon to be` driven thereover, or toatford a support for other purposes, the cable 33 is pulled by means of lever 3a. The rod 18 is then drawn to the right. as seen in Fie'. 35 the spring 28 placed under tension7 and the plates brought into the position shown in said figure.l The lugs 1() on bearing strip fform stops for the up ward movement of said plates. The plates are locked in closed position by engagement of pawl 37 with pawl rack 35. When the plates are thus closed, the upper surfaces thereof jiorma smooth and continuous plat- :form7 capable of supporting any desired load. The` Igrain carrying` wagon can be readily driven th ereover and onto the dump` ing loir. D. Tt will be understood that the devicelwill be firmly secured to the adjacent portion of theiioor and the top of chute B` by bolts, screws, or any other 4desired Iwooden or metal construction.

The labor required to operate applicants dei/'ice by means of the lever 34,- will be eX- oeedingly small compared to that necessary to operatetlie heavytrap doors heretofore used. Furthermore. applicants device has no partswhieh are in the way of the usual operations performed in `the urain' elevator. The device is composed'o'fvfew and simple sembled with a small. expenditure offlabor. The plates l1 can be` made as steel. castings, or may be formed in a orsrinfir machine. lf `i t is desired'to make'tl-ie parts ot sufficient dime siena the plates 12 might bei construe# ed ot' wood and have the arms 16 bolted thereto,

It will also be understood thatany equivalent operating means, such as a Windlass or drum having apavvl and ratchet mechanism, could be substituted for the lever operating means shown. i

If desired, the rod 18 can be prolonged to extend outside ofthe slot 25,r and equipped. With an oppositely threaded nut il0. This nut 410 will engageithe threaded end of the rod and also one end of a short threaded rod 4l, By turning the nut i-O, the distance that the rod `projects beyond the `frame l. can be regulated. Loch: nuts 4t2 are arranged at each side of the nut fl() to hold the same in adjusted position. The purpose of extending the rod, described, is to `enable the same to be operated by means of the dui'nping platform D shown in. Fig. l. this platform will be arranged with va cam slot therein so that when the same is swung to its horizontal or closed position the end of rod 4l will be engaged in said cam slotand moved thereby to the right, thus closing the plates l2 and the platform.

Various other changes in the form and details of the parts can be made Without departing from the spirit of applicants invention. Generally stated, the said invention consists in the structure illustrated and described and as setforth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A, dumping platform comprising a series of parallel pivoted plates having their adjacent edges contacting' and adapted to have their upper surfaces lie substantially in one plane to present a smooth upper surface, an arm depending from each plate, a member having pivoted connection with all of said arms, automatic means for moving said member in one direction for maintaining said plates in open position and means .for moving said member in the opposite direction to close said plates to present a smooth upper surface,

2. il dumping platform comprising a series of parallel plates pivoted onl an axis adjacent one longitudinal edge thereof and baring their edges abutting to form a sn'iootb upper surface, an :irni depending from each ol said plates, a member pivoted to all oi said arms. means for movingfsaid member in one direction to hold the plates :normally in open position, adjustable means on said member to determine said open position, and means for moving said member in the opposite direction to close said plates so as to form a smooth upper surface adapted to form a floor constructed to support a heavy load.

5?. A dumping platform comprising a series of parallel pivoted plates having their As indicated in the dotted lines,

edges abutting to present a `smooth upper surface, an arm depending from each of said plates, a member pivotally connected to all of said arms, automatic means for moving said member in one direction to hold the plates normally in open position, means on said member by which said open position may be varied, means for moving said member in the opposite direction to close said plates and stop means against which the plat-es contact to limit their closing movenient.

Ll. A. dumping platform having in combination a i,ilin'ality of parallel. plates having` abutting longitudinal. edges beveled and arranged to present a smooth upper surface, each of said plates 'having lateral journals and a central. journal, a capped bearing strip at each side ofthe device havin bearingsfor the lateral journals, a central. cap bearing strip having' bearings for the central journals, anarm depending from each of said plates, `a rod pivotally connected to the` ends all of said bars, a spring for moving said rod in .one direction to swing the plates in `their journals to form openings therebetween,adjustable means on said rod for determining the openposition of said plates, means connected to said rod for movingit in the opposite direction to close said plates to present a smooth upper surface, and stop lugs carried by said central bearing strip with which said plates contact to limit the closing movement thereof.

5. A dumping platform having in combination aseries of parallel pivoted plates having their longitudinal edges beveled and abutting, and arranged to present a smooth upper surface, side and central bearings for said plates, each plate having an arm depending from the under side th'ereof, a rod pivotally connected to the ends of all of said arms, adjustable means on said rod for limiting` its movement in one direction, au-

tomatic means` for moving said rod in oner direction to hold the plates normally in open position, a cable connected to the other end of said rod and means for moving said cable to swing said platesto closed position `to present a smooth upper surface.

(3. il member forming one of a series of elements o l' a dumping platform comprising two spaced rectangular plates aligned end to end; a rod beneath said plates and 'connecting the saine together, said rod extendlll) ing beyond the ends of said. plates to form journals, and also forming a journal between said plates, said plates having their opposite longitudinal edges beveled and parallel and an arm having a pivot opening in the end thereof depending from one of said plates.

7. A dumping platform comprising a boxlike structure having end and side members, bearing strips having a plurality of bearing openings there-iii secured to said side niembers a central bearing strip having a pluralitj of bearing openings therein lextending between said end iiieinbers midway between said side members, a series of parallel plates pivote-d in .said side and central bearing strips and having their edges arranged to Contact and it'or'niing a smooth upper surface, a ro'd beneath said plates and pivotally connected thereto, means for moving said rod in'oiie Vdireetioii to open said pla-tes, means on said rod ioi.l varying the open position of said plates, comprising a stop member on said rod contacting the sides oli a slot loiined iii one et saidl end members and through which said rod is adapted to extend; said other end member Valso having a slot through which said redis adapted. to`pass, and means connected to said latter end of the rod for moving the same to` move' the plates to closed position. y v

S; ln vcombination with a grain-receiving opening in the' floorr of an elevator, and a dumping log acent thereto, a dumping platform comprising` a series of plates pivoted on an axis extending longitudinally thereof and having beveledand contacting edges7 tlie upper surfaces of said plates being arranged to lie 1n one plane and forinin al continuation of said floor when closed,

and means for swinging said plates on their edges adjacent and pivoted on longitudinal axes the sections being adapted to be swung to open positions to form discharge openings oi" to be swung to have their vadjacent edges substz'intiallyY in contactl to form a 'continuous platform, iiieans acting on all, of said sections simultaiieously to swing the saine to closed position and automatic means for swinging said sections to open positions.

ln testimony whereof I aHiX niy signature in presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS l-LPALMER.

Witnesses WALTER HARRIS.

J. C. RiiiNnRTsoN. 

